England beaten by 28 runs

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So it was not to be. Soon after half-past 4 o’clock on the fourth day Johnston had Wright leg-before-wicket, the stumps were confiscated, and Australia had won the second Test match here by 28 runs; and Bedser, who had batted better than anyone except Hutton, was left pondering hugely on the wasted toil of bowlers and on batsmen who do not use their feet.

It would be hypocrisy to hide disappointment. That the Australian batsmen themselves should never have allowed England the chance today is granted, but it was a second chance and it could have been taken. The pitch